<p>I had hoped that at college there would be a more intellectually stimulating environment. Anybody else disappointed in this aspect?</p>
<p>Not experiencing that. </p>
<p>Surprised daily of the amount of bright students at my school and the content and wuality of their thoughts and ideas. </p>
<p>Perhaps, you’re not looking in the right place?</p>
<p>Sure, I could hang around certain groups in my school and wonder how any of them graduated high school. Then, I could take a couple step to the left and find truly inspiring students.</p>
<p>It all depends on who you associate with. There are plenty of people at my school that aren’t very academically motivated, and probably shouldn’t even really be in college. There are plenty of students that are very bright though too. I’ve had some great intellectual discussions with fellow students in the time I’ve been in college.</p>
<p>College is what you make of it. If you find that you’re lacking something that you want, go find it.</p>
<p>I’d encourage you to do more academically and research inclined things, for whatever field you’re in, if you’re really wanting for more intellectual stimulation. Talk to your professors about their research if it interests you or get involved in a research project (or something else where you have to figure out something new, create something new, basically figure out the limits of what people know and then figure out something beyond that). Go to conferences in your field, or find some way to meet and talk to whoever works in your field. I’ve met a lot of mindnumbingly brilliant people in both undergrad and grad school, but you may have to expand where you’re looking for them.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for more “intellectual stimulation” from your peers and in your classes, try to take classes that are smaller in size or more discussion based. Perhaps you could take seminar classes or classes that are primarily based on reading primary literature. Think about the material and ask questions during class that could spark a discussion. Other students may comment on it, or the professor may bring up new things that you haven’t thought of. If you become more actively involved with really interesting questions and discussions, you may be surprised with the discussion you can start.</p>
<p>I have met some of my brightest acquaintances on the debate team at a university. Other than that, lower division lectures are duller than most high school classes. The class I found most stimulating was an easy-A philosophy survey class at a community college where the professor taught almost nothing I had not already known. He spent half of every class opened for discussion.</p>
<p>I usually don’t experience that, but now that I’m working on a group project in a general education class, it reminds me very much of high school in that sense… There is still a handful of undeniably insightful people within the class, including the professor. It’s just that lot of the people in the group I was assigned to are, let’s say, less than inspiring.</p>
<p>So yeah, I agree with above posts. Even if you go to what’s considered good school, it can depend on who you associate with, as well as what classes you usually take/what your major is. Most of my professors and peers within my major program are unique and prolific thinkers. I’m glad to find myself within a sphere of people who value a wide variety of intellectual strengths and ways of thinking… It’s inspiring and thought provoking in ways that challenge the narrower definitions of intellect often held within institutional confines. Basically, I like it because it’s not just a bunch of stuffy academics nor tunnel-visioned young professionals. There’s a little something else to it. </p>
<p>Best wishes in finding a group of people that share your intellectual enthusiasm. Just run with your interests and try not to take too many classes known to be easy A’s. Maybe consider taking higher-numbered courses, or if it’s really a problem, start exploring other majors.</p>
<p>Also, regarding discussion-based courses… I’d be wary of general ed, broad/vague course descriptions, or open-registration intro classes. I find that most of these, especially when led by a TA and not an actual professor, are filled with more foolishness and people who just like to hear themselves talk than anything else. If you want thought-provoking discussion, choose classes that go in-depth about a specific topic of interest.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>I completely agree with you. Intelligence and college life are incompatible. </p>
<p>As said before, female population at most colleges has absolutely no intelligence whatsoever. Guys who cater to such immoral and degraded species are losers and they are therefore, responsible for devastating my college life happiness that I deserve.</p>
<p>I have yet to experience a lack of intellectual stimulation since arriving at my college. I believe this may be because the college I attend is a all STEM pretty competitive admissions school.</p>
<p>Sure, I find a person here or there that I wonder how they got admitted, but they are still relatively intelligent people.</p>
<p>The perception of intelligence is relative to each student.</p>
<p>You need to find people with similar interests and intelligence. Try out some different clubs. I ended up joining Math Club and a STEM research program, then I started doing research in a lab where I was the only undergraduate. That will put your skills in perspective for you pretty quickly.</p>
<p>Hah. Yes. Actually, funny story. So I attend the University of South Carolina. Just your average state school. Accepts any SC resident who is “qualified” (in the past that’s been anyone with a 3.0 and 1000 SAT). I was always impressed by the quality of the students there. I never felt like anyone was stupid or not interested in school.</p>
<p>So, I decide to study abroad at Sciences Po… one of the most prestigious schools in France. Has a 15% acceptance rate. The last five French presidents have all attended here. Super difficult school. They have all sorts of exchange agreements with places like Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Cambridge, etc. And I’m super disappointed. I feel like I’m learning nothing. The education I received in South Carolina was better than it is here. </p>
<p>It just happens. Things aren’t always as great as they’re hyped up to be. That being said, you get out of college what you put in. If you want a truly academic experience, it’s there for you. Jump in on some research projects. Get involved. See professors for extra opportunities.</p>
<p>I wanted to be part of this thread, but I can’t stick my nose high enough in the air</p>
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<p>What, you mean a certain poster who shall not be named hasn’t rubbed off on you yet? :p</p>
<p>This is a school where the average SAT score of admits is not more than 1550–and I have heard the stories of differences between more prestigious schools. --I get looked down upon for choosing this school and smart people generally go elsewhere.
So I’ll have to agree with you on this one.</p>
<p>I do a majority of the work when it comes to group work in introductory courses / GEs–have come across groups with multiple people with 1.xx GPAs, failing classes, etc.</p>
<p>Not that there aren’t smart people that I have met, there are a few that mostly take other majors. Electrical engineering is the rarest form of engineering at my school and it’s very hard to find them among the mechanical/civils in the lower division. As far as I know, the engineers that survive the weeding out (good luck getting through the ladder of Prereqs those that don’t even pass Calculus readiness tests) of the lower division (for the most part are in their 20-30s anyways), are the people that bring on really in depth / intellectual conversations. ~Looking forward to this come Fall 2014 :D</p>
<p>Oh good thing I can rant about this here, nobody at my school would want to hear me talking about this there.</p>
<p>Perhaps, I was spared the undesirable scenarios in my university. I’ve never taken a gen-ed. I’m in the honors college. I’m in enriched math and science classes. A semester to a year ahead of the flowchart so I’m not surround by freshmen other than my honors classes. I’ve have a pretty nice and intellectually fulfilling semester so far. </p>
<p>It’s truly about who you surround yourself with.</p>
<p>I agree with those that say that college is what you make of it.</p>
<p>It can feel like high school if you associate with the wrong people, but it can feel exactly how you want if you find the right people, clubs, etc.</p>